Diabetes Emotions And Relationships
Subodh Jain
October 27, 2008
In addition to blood sugar highs and lows, diabetes triggers emotional ups and downs that can be just as unpredictable and severe. And because the disease is life altering, it has a significant impact on not just the patient, but on everyone who lives with and cares for her or him. Preparing yourself for the emotional issues that diabetes brings can help you maintain your sanity and strengthen your relationships with others.
Dealing With Diagnosis
Dealing with a diabetes diagnosis has been compared to coping with the grief of death. Diagnosis marks the loss of life as you knew it. It's normal to grieve your old "healthy" life, even if you weren't feeling well before getting the diabetes label. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance are all part of the process.
The Dangers of Denial
The first of these can be the hardest and most damaging in diabetes. Many people chose to simply ignore that they have the disease, continuing on as if it didn't exist. The problem with this coping approach is the long term consequences of uncontrolled blood glucose. By the time they do come to terms with denial and are ready to treat their diabetes, serious complications may be on their way. Some newly diagnosed patients will acknowledge their feelings of denial. Recognition is a good sign that in the back of your mind you know you must move forward. As long as you're willing to follow your doctor's orders for the time being, even if you haven't fully accepted the disease, denial is a normal part of the process. Reaching acceptance can be a difficult, rocky road. Many people need the help of a therapist or counselor to get there. A health psychologist who has specialized training in the intricate psychological, biological, and social relationships between physical illness and mental health can be helpful in sorting through coping issues.
The Emotional Roller Coaster
Although acceptance is an important step in getting on track to diabetes control, it isn't a guarantee of ongoing inner peace. Periods of difficult control and high blood sugars can also bring devastating emotional lows, which can in turn make blood glucose levels rise even further and start a self-perpetuating cycle of physical and psychological deterioration. Learn to recognize the signs of emotional pitfalls like depression, anger, guilt, and stress so you can take the appropriate steps to stop this downward spiral before it starts.
Depression
Up to 20 percent of people with diabetes also suffer from depression . Occasional sadness, fear, and uncertainty are normal in diabetes, but when they start affecting your everyday enjoyment of life and interfering with proper self care, they may be something more than just a passing emotional downturn. Depression can be treated with therapy and/or antidepressant medication, so there's no reason to suffer needlessly. Here are a few other strategies that may help you deal with depression:
Knowledge is power. Fear of the unknown can feed your depression. If you haven't already, start educating yourself about your disease.
Seek support. Draw on the experience and emotional comfort of your family, friends, spiritual community, health care team, and others with diabetes.
Keep perfection in perspective. Reward your successes, big or small, and try to see your stumbles as learning experiences rather than failures.
Keep moving. Try to push yourself to at least take a brisk walk daily. Exercise raises your endorphin levels, a natural mood booster.
Dealing With Diagnosis
Dealing with a diabetes diagnosis has been compared to coping with the grief of death. Diagnosis marks the loss of life as you knew it. It's normal to grieve your old "healthy" life, even if you weren't feeling well before getting the diabetes label. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance are all part of the process.
The Dangers of Denial
The first of these can be the hardest and most damaging in diabetes. Many people chose to simply ignore that they have the disease, continuing on as if it didn't exist. The problem with this coping approach is the long term consequences of uncontrolled blood glucose. By the time they do come to terms with denial and are ready to treat their diabetes, serious complications may be on their way. Some newly diagnosed patients will acknowledge their feelings of denial. Recognition is a good sign that in the back of your mind you know you must move forward. As long as you're willing to follow your doctor's orders for the time being, even if you haven't fully accepted the disease, denial is a normal part of the process. Reaching acceptance can be a difficult, rocky road. Many people need the help of a therapist or counselor to get there. A health psychologist who has specialized training in the intricate psychological, biological, and social relationships between physical illness and mental health can be helpful in sorting through coping issues.
The Emotional Roller Coaster
Although acceptance is an important step in getting on track to diabetes control, it isn't a guarantee of ongoing inner peace. Periods of difficult control and high blood sugars can also bring devastating emotional lows, which can in turn make blood glucose levels rise even further and start a self-perpetuating cycle of physical and psychological deterioration. Learn to recognize the signs of emotional pitfalls like depression, anger, guilt, and stress so you can take the appropriate steps to stop this downward spiral before it starts.
Depression
Up to 20 percent of people with diabetes also suffer from depression . Occasional sadness, fear, and uncertainty are normal in diabetes, but when they start affecting your everyday enjoyment of life and interfering with proper self care, they may be something more than just a passing emotional downturn. Depression can be treated with therapy and/or antidepressant medication, so there's no reason to suffer needlessly. Here are a few other strategies that may help you deal with depression:
Knowledge is power. Fear of the unknown can feed your depression. If you haven't already, start educating yourself about your disease.
Seek support. Draw on the experience and emotional comfort of your family, friends, spiritual community, health care team, and others with diabetes.
Keep perfection in perspective. Reward your successes, big or small, and try to see your stumbles as learning experiences rather than failures.
Keep moving. Try to push yourself to at least take a brisk walk daily. Exercise raises your endorphin levels, a natural mood booster.
For more inforamtion on Diabetes Education and Care.
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